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Tim Hortons signs beckoning fans in Jolly Old England

International expansion continues with a store near Trafalgar Square in central London. But it’s not quite the same cuppa as home.

Okay, it doesn't quite the same as back home, but just seeing that familiar Tim Hortons script on a trip to England would warm many a Canadian heart. (for the toronto star / Jeffrey Simpson)

By Jeffrey SimpsonSpecial to the Star

Mon., March 7, 2011

LONDON, ENGLAND—Always fresh, sure. But even 5,000 kilometres away?

Canadians craving a familiar taste of home while across the pond can roll up to a relatively recent addition to the British capital’s coffee shop scene.

Just steps away from landmark tourist attractions such as Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus is a branch of that uber-Canadian institution, Tim Hortons.

The white lettering of the familiar logo on the front windows of a small Spar supermarket goes mostly unnoticed as red double-decker buses and black cabs zip past on Haymarket Street. But count on finicky Canucks to shun the ubiquitous Starbucks, Costa and Pret a Manger outlets in favour of this place for their caffeine fix.

MD Rashadul Hassan, a manager at the store, said he can often tell immediately who the Canadian customers are by the blissful expressions on their faces when they come through the door.

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“Sometimes they’re like, ‘Ohhh! It’s Tim Hortons!’” he said.

The selection is limited compared with franchises in our home and native land. The choice is between coffee, cappuccino and hot chocolate poured from a do-it-yourself counter across from the cash register. On a rack next to it are seven different types of donuts — which include Boston Cream, Chocolate Dip and Strawberry Jam — and three kinds of muffins.

An explanatory sign describes the franchise as “Canada’s favourite restaurant chain” founded in 1964 by “a legendary ice hockey player and entrepreneur.”

To live up to the claim for freshness advertised on the paper cups, the coffee is ground for each pour and the baked goods are replaced every two or three hours to ensure they’re not stale, Hassan said, adding that the donuts are made in Portugal or Denmark and shipped frozen to the U.K.

Spar, a Europe-wide franchise from the Netherlands, began selling Tim Hortons products about three years ago at several of its shops in the UK, and tourists can find Tims in places as far away as Belfast. They also have shops in New York City. But this is the only one dab-smack in the middle of London’s premiere tourist draws – it’s only about three blocks from the Royal Wedding parade route.

David Morelli, a spokesman for Tim Hortons, said the U.K. was the chain’s first international expansion outside North America and Tim Hortons hasn’t disclosed any further plans to grow.

“But we’re always looking for opportunities,” he said.

The company also has about 200 locations in Ireland, while the only other location in London is at Canary Wharf, he said.

On a recent afternoon, London resident Dominica Cabuno was walking past and was surprised to see the logo with which she became familiar while visiting relatives in Edmonton two years ago.

She opted for Timmy’s for a chance to reminisce a bit about her overseas trip.

“It’s just different,” she said. “I like Starbucks, too, but I saw this here.”

Rob Cunningham, a tourist from Dartmouth, N.S., was visiting London with his wife, Barb, and son, Sam, 15.

“We were just walking down the street and saw the Tim Hortons sign and said, ‘Man it’s been a week since I’ve had one of those so I thought I’d give it a try,’” Cunningham said. “It’s a nice reminder of Canada, absolutely.”

Yet some things — like dental work and accents — just aren’t the same over here.

“It tastes like the English coffee,” Cunningham said, grimacing slightly at the cup. “So I’m a little disappointed.

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